Day 89 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Gerald and Trevor went to the caravan park on the beach and did a deal and booked us both in for a week.

Drove down and looked at 1770, its more a fishing and boating area, where Agnes Water has the shops and surf beach.

Day 88 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

We went up to the CBD of Gin Gin 1650 metres (Francis and Lorraine had walked up the day before) and did the shopping for all of us. When we got to Agnes Water we couldn't find the caravan park after 40 minutes we went to the information centre and asked and she directed me to a park on the beach, which was wrong, because we knew it was in the bush. So back in I went in with the book that shown only one park and then the lady realised where we wanted to go. So after 50 mins we were booking in and the owners were very cross because the pay a fee to the information centre and the other park doesn't. But the guy who owns the other park owns half the town, and the one we are in the council wont let him put a sign on the road. I think he is fighting a loosing battle.

Went for a drive and saw the other caravan park right on the beach.

Day 87 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Arrived at Gin Gin about 11 o'clock. We were having a cup of tea with Nola and Trevor, when Nola saw a man walking very quickly up to their van and it turned out to be Francis. He and Lorraine had just arrived a bit before us and he just happened to notice our bus. We had thought that we wouldn't catch up again.

Trevor is a keen surfer so we have decided to go to Agnes Water. We thought that we wouldn't be able to get in till Monday but we got two spots together for Saturday and Sunday nights at the Discovery Park the only one in the book.

Day 86 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Big washing day today sheets and towels.

Spoke to Nola and Trevor and we were to meet them at Gin Gin tomorrow, but they rang and said they were already there.

Had drinks with our with Bruce and Marilyn and two other Tasmanian friends of theirs.

Love this pic of mum and joey, they posed very nicely for me.

Day 85 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Bruce offered the use of his car today. So we went and had a look round Woodgate. Found a chemist because my skin has become extremely itchy, the chemist suggested that is maybe because I am showering in different water. Took a pill and when we got back to the bus I lay down and had a snooze and woke feeling better.

Day 84 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Woke this morning to see a fog hanging over the park. But that soon cleared to a brilliant day. There were about a dozen kangaroos lounging in the sun over the fence.

Walked along the beach and watched the fishermen catch nothing!! Haven't seen a fish caught all trip.

In holiday mode so we read and Gerald watched a bit of TV.

Day 83 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Woke at 7 am and couldn't see the other side of the river the fog or mist was so thick. packed up and said our goodbyes.

Got gas at Benarby79.9 cents a litre not bad. The Bruce Highway was awful you can see why in some spots they have reduced the speed. We did see one little blue car smashed up down a 6 mt embankment.

Got to Woodgate Beach and caught up with our old financial advisor, Bruce. He had suggested Woodgate to us in Hobart and now we know why it beach is magnificent. While we were having Happy Hour a large kangaroo hopped through the park. Bruce said that she had a joey. The birds even eat out of your hand.

Day 82 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Moved to the South side of Calliope River. They on the south side had had a bad night with several ute loads of "young chaps" hooning about till 4 am.

Spent the day reading, Gerald watched TV and chatting. Its been nice and sunny so our batteries are well up.

Pic is of the North Side of the River

Day 81 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Very chilli this morning, we put the heater on for an hour or two, but as soon as the sun came round it warmed up very quickly.

Lorraine and Francis came over for a chat and Francis was surprised how much room there was on the north side, there was only a small area when they were here seven years ago.

I am sitting in the shade catching up on the blog, the breeze is getting up so its very pleasant.

Day 80 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

On the way out today we had to fill with gas, but every station was on the wrong side of the road but we knew that there was a large service station at the Crossing. But they didn't have any so we went to Calliope they didn't have any so we will have to run on petrol for a while maybe.

We decided to go the north side of the rive at the Calliope Rest Area this time. Gerald said that he wouldn't be surprised if Lorraine and Francis were there. There was one van on the other side that looked a bit like theirs but we couldn't see the car. After we unpacked we went for a walk and it looked like their van but wrong chairs. Then we realized that the people parked beside them we had met in Campbell Town with the Lorraine and Francis last year. So we chatted to them for a while and walked home. I didn't realise that the south side has several little beaches on the river.

I caught up on the washing, well some things never change.

Day 79 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Forgot to say yesterday we voted and I had my nails done. Don't ever get your nail done in Gladstone, the little no english speaking...person....cut all my own nail off and put on tips I was so pissed off but no english and it was too late, I thought that HE was only trimming them.

As we had very little sun on the previous days we were plugged into power and now have fully charged batteries.

Gerald washed the bus and we spoke to Dena, Nola and Trev on the phone. Just a relaxing day.

Must say I am running out of books to read I will have to find a swap shop.

Day 78 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Luckily we had packed up yesterday. Except the TV dish. It rained all night and Gerald wonderer if we might have trouble getting out. We didn't.

Tried to get to the information centre at Gladstone but you had to go over a 5 tonne bridge, we are 9 tonne. So we went to the caravan park and we couldn't get in there until after 1pm, but they told us how to get to the information centre and explained why there was no traffic or shops open or people on the streets, it was Gladstone Show Day.

Nothing much at the information centre and we were told not to worry about the limit on the bridge, but we wouldn't risk it just our luck to fall through. The wharf area and surrounds were very nice pity it wasn't a nice day.

Day 77 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Gerald became the TV expert today at one stage he had four people gathered round him asking for advise and they all mentioned the guy on the corner who was having heaps of trouble getting a picture. I told Gerald to go down and help him but he said he wouldn't interfere, if the man wanted help he will come and ask which he did a few hours later. It tool Gerald a while but he got them a picture and they were most grateful. See he is very useful at times.

It's only a 48 hour stopping park but we thought we would risk another night and it had started to rain. And the guy with the TV said he had been there for 4 days.

Day 76 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Rest day again today sitting in the shade reading and watching the comings and goings.

Day 75 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Left very late got chatting to more Tasmanians ( hope they turned off the lights). At the actual town of Calliope the was a very nice clean Dump Point and water available, sponsored by CMCA, Kia and the community.

We couldn't find the entrance to the southern camp and had to ask. It's about 2 km short of the Historical Town and a road called River Ranch Estate, we were surprised at how large the camping area was.

Day 74 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Heard about Pete Shea that makes three young people from home that have passed since we have been away all so young.

I have spent most of today catching up with my blog. I just cant seem to find the time with reading, talking and resting but now its done, sorry its been so long. I do promise myself they I will kept it up to date but it just gets away from me.

Well its only 3.30 pm and the cockatoos are becoming restless so they will be off soon, and at 3.45 pm Francis says its Beer O'clock.

Well now its written I just have to post it and add the pics.

Day 73 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Walked about the area there is a fishing comp here in three weeks over three weekends.

Not a lot again today but that's what's it all about, but I don't like these cold nights though.

Made a Chicken Caesar Salad for tea and we were going to finish with the rest of the fried rice but we were full.

Lots of cockatoos, Gerald thinks they are Yellow Crested, here they make a noise a lot of the day but come four o'clock they go and don't come back till nine or ten the next morning, but they are killing the trees, they are stripping the leaves not to eat just for something to do.

Day 72 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Moved into a spot next to the Krauses and put the legs down on the awning and really set ourselves up with our extra matting that doesn't match.

Did the washing and used my new clothes line which has made it so much easier than having lines strung everywhere.

Gerald instructed Lorraine into the makings of Fried Rice, and that's what we had for tea.

Another cold night had to put the heater on.

Day 71 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

As we were leaving we went round to dump our water and there was that Tasmanian man again, I got Gerald to stop and it turned out he was a friend of Geralds,brother and we had been camping with them at Mole Creek in January. See I said I knew his face. Ross and Lyn were heading to 1770, we may catch up with them in the future.

Back to the chemist and stocked up at the IGA. Off the meet Lorraine and Francis at Baralaba its in the Banana ShireSW of Rocky.

Day 70 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Washing day today, it was nice and sunny so it didn't take long to dry.

Got a text from Mandy to say that she had booked our flights accommodation and seating at next years Australian Open. Now I have to transfer the money.

Day 69 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Went down the road to the chemist got what they told me in Emerald I couldn't have. Back to the park to do a dump our black and grey water saw a Tasmanian and I said to Gerald I know that guys face, I think its one of Arthur's friends.

Day 68 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

We saw about 10 trains today six full or coal heading to Rocky. Two engines in the front then about 42 coal trucks two more engines and another 44 coal trucks. Then just before getting to Rocky there was a huge derailment (we found out later it happened 18 months ago)

We booked into the Discovery Big 4 Park in Rocky. While trying to work out which was our site a guy came and said why don't you put your bus up here next to my boat, he was the owner and we were in a nice area with only other Tasmanians for neighbours.

After a walk round the park we booked for an extra two nights it was one of the cleanest and nicest parks we had been in.

Day 67 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Such a calm day we decided to leave and head for Emerald, we needed a chemist.

Well we can now call bus "The Flying Bus" the road was so rough we had all six wheels off the road.

We had to get off the road, I mean right off, twice for trucks with mining trucks on the back, hope the pics come out.

We went to the chemist and one of my scrip's couldn't be filled because the don't make it any more.

We went to the free camp under the bridge at Emerald. It was a railway bridge and Gerald said "It doesn't look like there will be any trains here" but at 3.50 am we found out different, luckily we like trains.

Oh yes and there was a market and we swapped some books and I was ripped off with my 1/2 kg of prawns $17.00, they were big....but.

Oh yes with all that flying today we lost Geralds stainless steel exhast extension........ohhhh. I must admit it does look better with it on.

Day 66 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Really nice spot at Jericho. Toilets and a cold outside shower, but each day there have been ute loads of wood supplied.

A day reading in the shade, with a little breeze, life couldn't be better.

Day 65 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

There are so many dead roo on the road I can't bare to look.

Gerald brought me a nice little opal ring for my birthday I had only got a had from Woollies for his, what else can you get a man who has everything.

On to Barcaldine where we got food beer and wine, could only get a cask. The tree on knowledge was here but it was poisoned a couple of years ago and just last year the government unveiled the monument to The Tree on Knowledge. It was very impressive, I hope the pics can show it properly.

We stopped at a free camp at Jericho, right by the river, nice.

Day 64 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Another lazy day, well someone has to do it.

Mail arrived and I did some washing.

Day 63 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

Another lazy day. No mail so we booked in for another two nights. Shower of rain but still warm.

Day 62 We Explore Aust Part 2 2010

I was right we did get a drop of rain, not that it was much.

On to Illfracombe Geralds pill were there but my mail hadn't arrived yet. We walked up the town and checked out the public spa, it was nice we must go up there for a soak.

Got some bread, milk and Coke at the well stocked shop. Had a look at the Wellshot hotel, there had been five hotels in the town in its hey day.